[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 7, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H10561-H10562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REX E. LEE POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3547) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 936 South 250 East in Provo, Utah, as the ``Rex E. 
Lee Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3547

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REX E. LEE POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 936 South 250 East in Provo, Utah, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office 
     Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over 
the United States Postal Service, I am proud to present H.R. 3547 for 
consideration. This legislation designates the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 936 South 250 East Street in Provo, 
Utah, as the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office Building.''
  The measure before us was introduced on September 10 by my friend and 
colleague, Ranking Member Jason Chaffetz of Utah, and it was favorably 
reported out of the Oversight Committee on September 24, 2009, by 
unanimous consent. In addition, this measure enjoys the full support of 
the Utah House delegation.
  Since it is the legislation sponsored by my friend, I will allow him 
to fill in the details.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of the H.R. 3547, a bill to designate the facility 
of the United States Postal Service located at 936 South 250 East 
Street in Provo, Utah, as the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office Building''.

                              {time}  1545

  I happen to know Mr. Lee, as he served as the president of Brigham 
Young University. He was a great and amazing human being. All too often 
in our society we hope that our kids will emulate somebody of 
significance, and Rex Lee was certainly that kind of person.
  He was a joy. He was full of life at every step and one of the 
smartest people you could ever meet. In fact, he had many dealings with 
the Supreme Court. In fact, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said this about 
the passing of Rex Lee: ``He inspired all of us with his courage in the 
face of a terminal illness. Knowing him was one of the greatest 
privileges of my life. Remembering him will be one of the easiest.''
  Amazing words from an amazing person.
  In 1960, Rex Lee graduated with a BA from Brigham Young University. 
He served as the student body president. In 1963, Rex graduated first 
in his class from the University of Chicago Law School, and from law 
school he went on to serve as a law clerk for Byron White, Associate 
Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
  From Washington, D.C., he returned to his home in the State of 
Arizona as a partner in the Phoenix law firm of Jennings, Strouss & 
Salmon. While there, Rex argued his first case in the United States 
Supreme Court just 4 years after graduating from law school.
  In 1972, Rex returned to Brigham Young University to become the 
founding dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School. From 1975 to 1976, he 
served as an assistant Attorney General in charge of the civil division 
in the United States Department of Justice; and from 1981 to 1985, Mr. 
Lee served as Solicitor General of the United States of America.
  In 1986, Mr. Lee retired as Solicitor General and returned to Brigham 
Young University. He was diagnosed with cancer shortly thereafter. Mr. 
Lee practiced law with Sidley & Austin law firm and returned to 
teaching constitutional law at the George Sutherland Chair of Law at 
the J. Reuben Clark Law School.
  Mr. Lee was then named the 10th president of Brigham Young University 
on May 12, 1989, and served in this capacity until December of 1995, 
just 2\1/2\ months before he passed away.
  All told, he argued 59 cases before the Supreme Court and won 23 of 
the 30 cases he argued as the Solicitor General. In fact, he was 
preparing for his 60th case just months before he passed away.
  He's known throughout the community in Utah for his great humility, 
for his great contribution to the United States of America. In fact, 
five Supreme Court Justices attended a memorial service for Rex Lee: 
Byron White, Justices John Paul Stevens,

[[Page H10562]]

David H. Souter, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Clarence Thomas.
  This is a great man. He's worthy of recognition of the United States 
Congress, and it's my honor to stand here and encourage the passage of 
this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague's support of this bill 
and authorship and thank him for his energy on behalf of this measure.
  The object of H.R. 3547, as my friend has indicated, will dedicate 
the United States Postal Service facility in Provo, Utah, to the life 
and legacy of Mr. Rex Lee.
  Mr. Lee dedicated his entire life to serving others, as my friend has 
noted. In 1972 he left a very promising legal career as a partner at 
the prestigious Arizona law firm of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon to 
become the founding dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham 
Young University.
  It's no exaggeration to say that Mr. Lee's hard work as the law 
school's first dean really and truly put it on a track to become one of 
today's top American law schools.
  After a successful tenure at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Mr. Lee 
entered the field of public service, began his career as an assistant 
Attorney General in charge of the civil division of the United States 
Department of Justice from 1975 to 1976, and then went on to serve as 
Solicitor General for the United States from 1981 to 1985.
  As Solicitor General, Mr. Lee was able to focus his attention on his 
favorite legal practice area: litigation. And he argued several cases 
before the United States Supreme Court.
  During his time as America's Solicitor General, Mr. Lee developed a 
distinct and enduring reputation as a man of principle. In fact, he was 
so passionate that up until the time of his death Mr. Lee was still in 
the midst of preparation for arguing another case before the Supreme 
Court.
  After resigning from his position as Solicitor General, Mr. Lee 
returned to Brigham Young University in 1986; and shortly thereafter, 
he was regrettably diagnosed with cancer. Following a year of medical 
treatment and therapy, Mr. Lee recovered for a time and was named 
president of BYU. He served the Brigham Young University community with 
distinction from July 1, 1989, through December 31, 1995, leaving the 
position 2\1/2\ months before he passed away on March 11, 1996.
  Although Mr. Lee is no longer with us, his memory lives on through 
his wife, Janet, his seven children, 10 grandchildren, and all of those 
who were fortunate enough to know him.
  As my friend, Mr. Chaffetz from Utah, has noted, Mr. Lee earned the 
great respect of quite a few people at the United States Supreme Court, 
and those quotes have been included.
  In closing, I wholeheartedly support this measure, and I urge all of 
my colleagues to join with Mr. Chaffetz, the gentleman from Utah, and 
myself in favor of voting for H.R. 3547.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. I would simply thank Mr. Lynch for his kind words, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing I encourage all of my friends on 
both sides of the aisle to join with Mr. Chaffetz, the gentleman from 
Utah, and myself in honoring the life of Rex Lee by voting in favor of 
H.R. 3547.
  I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3547.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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